Process and apparatus for tanning hides.



` v. QUAEDVLIEG. PROESS AND APPARATUS FOR TANNING HIDES.

APPLICATION FILED SEP 18. 1916.

` Patentedoot. 1,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

- v. QUAEDVIJEG. 'PROCESS AND AEPARATUS' FOR TANNlNG HIDES -Patented oet 1918.

v 2 SHEETS-SHEEI 2,

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-18. 1916.

VICTOR QUAEDVLIEG, OF KEREMEOS, BBITISE COLUMBIA, CANDA.

PBOCESS AND APPRATUS FOR 'TANNING HIDES. i

accuses. i

spcoiflcation of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1913.

Application filed September 18, 1916. i Serial Ho. 120333.

To all whom it may cancem:

Be it known that I, VICTOR QUAnDvmEc,

a subject of Holland, residing in Keremeos, British Columbia, Canada, have invented a certain new and useful Process and Apparatus for Tannin Hides, of which the following'is a speci cation.

My invention relates to a system of tanning, and one of its objects is the provision of a process by which the hides or skins of animals to be tanned are rendered more porous and more permeable to the tanning solution than in processes of tanning heretofore employed in practice. i i A further object of the invention is to provide a process for tanning hidesand the like, in which the hides are rendered permeable to the tanning solution b uniform bendingfthereof and without un ue or abrupt bending in any-portion thereof.

r Another object of my invention' is the provision of a process by which the hides, are alternately bent back. upon themselves without undue or abrupt bending but with uniform bendin A further ob ect of my invention is the provision of apparatus for carrying out the foregoing process, and more articularly for .securing automatic uniform ending of the hides in reverse direction `whileimmersed in the tanning solution.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter, the novel features and com binations being set forth in the appended claims. V

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure`1 represents an end sectional elevation of a vat containing tanning solution in which is'immersed a plurality of hides Suspended at intervals rom a rotatable drum;

F ig. 2 illustrates diagrammatically the Outline of an entire untrimmed hide which is particularly adapted for sole leather;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the tannng solution' vat, the rotatable drum and the automatic means for Operating said drum;

Fg. 4 is a lan view, somewhat dagrammatic, of a p urality of drums mounted on a single'shaft and arranged longitudinally of a series of vats containing tanning soluton;

Fig. 5 is a plan view, somewhat diagram-' matic, of a series of. rotatable' drums arranged in parallel in a single vat contain ing tanning solution;

Fg. 6 is a detail View of mechanism for suspending the hides from the rotatable drum; and

Fig. 7 is a detail view of the means for fastenng the suspending devices to the cheeks of the hide shown n Fig. 2; In Fig. 1, 8 designates a vat for containmg a tanning solution 9 preferably to approximately the depth indicated by' the transverse horizontal line 10. Mounted in the vat 8 is a drum 11 which may be of any desired material, although I prefer for at least the exterior surface such Wood as will withstandthe tanning solution employed. If desired, the inner portion 12 which is mounted on the shaft 13 may be made of Copper-'and such other material as will not be attacked by the tanning solution when submerged therein. If a metal drum 12 is em lo'yed I still prefer to cover the same wit a cylinder 14 composed of suitable wood, although, if desired, the entire rotatable drum may be made of metal open or closed at its end. w

' At intervals around the cylindrical 'surface of the drum 11 I provide devices to 'lower ends at 18. Inverted U-shaped slits 19 are cut into the but-t ends 15 of the hides, as shown in Fig. 2, and after the links 17 are inserted through the slits 19 eotter pins 20 are inserted through the perforations 18,

as shown in Fig. 7, so asto suspend the hides from the cylindrical surface of the drum 11, as shown in Fig. 1. The hides 21 are therefore Suspended in planes extending longitudinally of the axis of the drum 11.

In Fig. 1 I have shown aseries of 25 spaced apart and circumferentially arranged suspending devices but the number may be varied as desired, but the proportion of the diameter of the drum with respect to the interior width of the vat should be such as to allow plenty of room for free upward ential series of suspending devices so as to i "29 including the intervening spaces. Be-

uniformly distribute the suspending strain on the hides. I prefer to connect the suspending devices to the butt ends of the hides not only to secure more uniform .distribution of the suspending strain but also' to minimize waste due to the perforations 19 and to secure greater bending of the denser portions of the hides ,during the operation of the tannng thereof. i V

In order to regulate the temperature of the tanning solution, heating or cooling devices 22 at or near the bottom of the vat 8 may be provided, the heating or cooling'devices being connected by means of watertight joints at 23 and 24 to the vat 8.

Referring now to Fig. 3 I will descrbe the automatic mechanism for rotating the drum alternately in opposite directions. Preferably the drum *11 is rotated about six times in one direction and then automatically reversed and rotated aboutsix times in the`opposite direction and so on, the o 'eration beingcarried on automatically until the power is cut off. The drum shaft 13 is preferably mounted in the bearings' 25 and' 26, the' one designated 25 being inside of the vat 8, as shown in Fig. 3. Keyed to the shaft 13 are two pulleys 27 and 28 between v which is mounted a loose pulley 29.' A belt 30 is shown in Fig. 3 connectng-thloose pulley 29 with the driving pulley 31 which has a length approximately equal to the combined widths of the pulleys 27; 28 and tween the pu1ley`27 and the driving pulley 31 is a reverse belt 32. An engine may be connected by a belt to the large pulley 33 which is mounted on the driving shaft 34, the latter being supported 'in the bearings 35, 36 and 37. The driving ulley 33 .is mounted on one end of the sha connected by the belt 39 to a pulley 40 on a countershaft 41. The latter is mounted in suitable bearings and is prbvided intermediate -its ends. with a worm with a worm gear 43 pivotall mounted and 34 and on the other end thereof is located a pulley 38 which meshes carrying a suitable cam- 44' engaging a pin 45 to move the lever 46 on its fulcrum 47 v and. thereby 'oscillate the belt shifter 48.

reverse belt 32 will then run on the loose pulley 29 and the straight belt 30 willrun on the pulley 28 to cause the drum 11 to rotate in the opposite direction. The drum 29 is of sufficient width to permit both belts 30 and 32 to run thereon when the power is cut ofl' at the time the belt shifter is in its intermediate position. However, the drum 11 may be stopped in any position desired by cutting ofl? the power from the driving pulley 33.

As illustrated in Fig. 1, when the drum 11 is rotated the' Suspended hides will be wrapped around the drum so as'to overlap each other in series the bending being grad-- nal and uniform and free from abru t bending or kinks tending to injure 'the the leather. When the rotation of the 'drum 11 is reversed not only are the hides 21 at' -the lower left hand portion'of Fig. l wrapped 'terstices of the hide and thereby assuring thorough and uniform tanning of the hides into leather and thereby bettering its quality. The reverse bending opens the pores and the overlapping forces 'the solution into the pores. r

In Fig. 4 I have represented a series of drums 11' mounted on a single shaft 13( ,which issupported in bearings 49, 50,51, 52,

53 and.-54, the intermediate bearings 49 to 52 inclusive being supported respectively by the cross ,pieces 55, 56, 57 and 58 in the vat 8'. The hides are Suspended by means 'of a plurality of spaced-apart suspending devices arranged longitudinally of the drums in alinement with each other and .also arranged *circumferentially as shown in Fig. l. It will therefore be seen that in Fig. 4 five 'hides can be arranged in longitudinal planes parallel to the axis of the series of drums.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a series of drums 11" arranged in parallel in a vat 8". The

transverse shafts 13" are mounted in suitable bearings in the vat 8" and connected by the gearing 59 to the belt pulley reversing nechanism comprising the pulleys 28 and 29. The hides are connected to the drums 11" in the same 'manner as in the Construction shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The

'des or shown in Fig. 1 if the drums are rotated clock-wise each will be lifting the hides and causing them to take up the space to the left of each drum and taking the hides away from the' right hand side ofeac'h drum. In

Figg the gearing is such that when the drums are rotated in a certain direction the rotation is the same for' each drum; this is also true for. the reverse rotation of th drum.

Having fully described the principle of my nvention and apparatus .by means of which my improved process may be carried out, what I claim and desire'to have pro tected "by Letters Patent. of the United States is- V 1. A process of tanning hidesconsisting in suspending a hide by one end in a 'substantially Vertical plane while completely immersed in tanningsolution, and in gradually and uniformly bending the entire hide less than a circle and without wrapping it on itself or`over itself, first in one direction and then bringing it back to its substantially vertical plane and gradually and uniformly bending it over all in the opposite direction less than a circle and repeatingsuch steps during the tanning operation and while al- -ways mmersed in such tanning solution.

'2. A process of tanning hides consisting in bending the entire hide semi-cylindrically and uniformly in a tanning solution alternately in opposite directions ithout wrapping such hide over itself anwithout permitting any portion of said hide to come in contact with any other portion thereof.

3. A process of tannng hides consisting in suspending a hide from a large drum in a tanning solution and rotating said drum alternately in opposite directions to' effect gradual and uniform bending of the whole hide without wrapping 'it over itself in a circle and without permitting any portion thereofto contact with any other portion thereof and to secure bending of said hide in such mannerin said tanning solution back 4 and forth in opposite directions."

'4. A process of tanning hides consisting in suspending several hides in parallel relation from the exterior of a large rotatable drum in a tanning solution, and Operating `said drum to alternately 'bend said hides gradually and uniformly in opposite direc- 'tions and without permitting any one of saidfhides to bendback upon itself or over itsel 5. A process of tanning hides consisting in suspending several hides from a large rotatable drum and rotating said drum alternately n opposite directions 'to 'secure gradual and uniform bending of said hides over each other and on the exterior of said drum' to secure thorough working of said hides in said tanni'ng solution and uniform pressure of overlapping hides while preventing each hide from being bent back upon itself or over-itself and causing each hide to be alternately lifted and lowered on oppo- `site sides of said drum.

6. A process of tanning hides consisting I n suspending fromthe exterior surface of a comparatively large drum mounted, on a `generally horizontal axis several hides in spaced-apart relation and so as to be wholly immersed together with said drum in a tanning solution, 'and rotating said drum to' elfect gradual and uniform bending of the ,hides alternately in opposite directions without permitting any one hide to be bent back over itself and without permitting any portion of any one hide to come in contact with. any other portion of the same hide. '7. A process of tanning h'idesconsisting in bending several hides alternately all in one direction and all in the opposite direction to cause gradual and uniform bending of each hide to open the pores on both surfaces and causing thehides to overlap and press against ione another to force the tanning solution into the pores, while preventingany of said hides from being bent back over itself and while preventing any of said hides from having one portion come in contact with another portion thereof.

8. The process of tanning which consists" in suspending a hide or skin in a tanning solution from the exterior surface of a comparatively large drum longitudinally of such drum substantially parallel to the axis thereof, and in oscillating the drum tobend the hide or skin in opposite directions with curvatures equal to substantially half of the circumference of the drum and without permitting said hide to be bent back over itself or any portion thereof to come in contact with any other portion thereof.

9. The process of tanning which consists in removably. attaching several hides at spaced-apart distances on the eriphery of a drum of a larger "diameter than half the length of the hide, in rotating the drum a number of times in one direction tobend each hide in uniform curvature of not more than a semi-circle and without causing 'any hide to be bent back over itself orany portion of anyhide to come in contact with any other portion thereof, and in alternately the opposite direction and to secure separati n of the hides temporarily for the flow of the tanning solution between the hides and subseqnent overlapping of the hides to cause the latter t'o press the tanning solution into the pores of the hides opened by. such alternate bending. 10.- In tanning apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for containing tanning solution, of a comparatively large drum mounted in said receptacle for complete immersion in said tanning solution, means 'for suspending several hides from the longitudinal exterior surface of said drum in spacedapart relation when immediately below the drum and overlapping relation when at the sides of the drum, and mechanism for rotating said drum in opposite directions to secure adual and uniform bending of said hides n opposite directions while immersed in said tanning solution and for securing the overlapping of said hides without causing any of them to bend back upon themselves o'r over themselves, whereby the tanning solution is pressed into the pores of said hides. 11.- In tanning apparatus, the combination 'with a vat for' containing tanning solution,

of a cylindrical drum mounted in said vat for complete immersion in said tanning solution, a plurality of rows of screw-eyes arranged lon itudinally on the exterior surface of sai drum, said rows being spacedapart circumferentially, a plurality of perforated 'link devicesone pivoted to each of said screw-eyes'and adapted to be inserted through U-shaped slits in the hides to be tanned, a plurality of pins, one associated with each of said perforated link devices for securing said hides in suspension from said drum in spaced-apart relation when hanging below said drumand overlapping relation when at the sides of said drum, and means for rotating said drum to secure bendin of said hides and overlapping thereof without causing said hides to be bent back upon themselves or over themselves.

12. In tanning apparatus, the comb ination with a receptacle for containing tanning solution, of a rotatable drum, means for suspending a hide' by connecting one end thereof to the exterior of said drum for immersion in said tanning solution, and mechanism for alternately rotating said drum in oppo- .site directions to secure bending ofthe entire hide in opposite directions without bending into direct contact with itself or bending over itself.

13. In tanning apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for containing tanning solution, of a rotatable drum mounted in said receptacle, means for suspendin several hides by connecting one of the en s of each to the exterior surface of; said drum in spaced-apart relation when hanging beneath said drum and in overlapping relation' when 'at-the sides of* said drum, and automatic,

whereby the pores on both sides of each hide are opened and the tanning solution caused to freely wet both surfaces of each hide when said hides are in spaced-apart relation beneath the drum, and'whereby said tanning solution is pressed into said pores when said hides overlap and press on-each other.

14. In tanning apparatus, the combination with a vat for containing 'tanning solution, of a plurality of rotatable drums mounted in said vat, means for suspending .several hides from each of said drums by connecting one of the. ends of each of said hides to the exterior surfaces of said drums in spacedapart relation when said hides hang below said drums and in overlapping relation when said hides are at the sides of said drums, and mechanism for oscillating said drums simultaneously to secure bending of said hides in opposite directions without bending any one of said hides back upon itself or over itself and to secure the opening several hides from each of said rums by connecting one-of the ends of each of said hides to the exterior surfaces of said drums in spaced-apart relation when said hides are Suspended beneath said drums and in overlapping relation when said hides are at the sides of said drums, and means for oscillating said drums to secure bending of said hides in opposite directions to open the pores thereof and to secure the free flow of tanning solution over the surfaces of said ,hides and'the pressure of 'the tanning solution into the said pores. v

16. In tanning apparatus, the combination with a receptacle for containing tanning solution, of a plurality of spaced-apart parallel hide-supporting drums, interconnected gearng for compellng the drums to rotate either clockwise or anti-clockwise in the same direction,- means for suspending several hides from each of said -drums in spaced-apart relation when hanging beneath the same and in overlapping relation when at the sides thereof, and means for oscillattwo subscrbing witnesses, on this 29th day ing sad drums to cause said hides to be bent of August A. D. 1916.

alternately in opposite directions and overlapped onthe same sdes of the series of VICTOR QUAEDVLIEG' 5 drums alternately. Witnesses:

In testimony whereof I have signed my G. L. ARMsTRoNG,

name to this specfication, in the presence of E. A. WILLIAMS. 

